Hours of Service Violations and Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers bear an enormous amount of responsibility when operating commercial 18-wheelers. While all vehicle accidents have the potential to be dangerous, collisions can be exponentially more devastating when an 18-wheeler is involved. The size and weight of these trucks can cause serious and, in many cases, fatal injuries when they collide with smaller vehicles.
Among the numerous issues that can cause commercial trucking accidents is the threat of driver fatigue. Far too many trucking companies impose unreasonable schedules on their drivers in order to cut down on shipping costs. These hours of service violations can lead drivers to get behind the wheel when they are much too exhausted to drive responsibly which, in turn, places other drivers on the road in danger.
Possible Dangers of Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers who choose to operate their commercial vehicles in a state of exhaustion pose a threat to other drivers. Fatigue can cause drivers to make mistakes that often lead to serious accidents. Some of the most common driver errors are:
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Failure to check blind spots
- Failure to obey traffic signs and signals
- Failure to properly utilize turn signals or headlights
Despite the many regulatory laws in place to prevent truck drivers from operating their vehicles while overly fatigued, some operators or companies choose to gamble with the safety of innocent motorists. If this type of negligent behavior played a role in your accident, you may need to enlist the help of an attorney in taking legal action against the responsible party.
Contact a Boston Employer Liability Attorney
If you have been the victim of a truck accident caused by an overly fatigued driver, you may be able to pursue financial compensation for your injuries. The Boston legal team at Crowe & Harris, LLP , is ready to help you build a strong claim for compensation against the responsible party or parties involved in your accident.
Call our office at (617) 404-3417 to speak to an attorney about your situation and receive personalized advice today.
